Big Jim McLain

1952

Big Jim McLain

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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

42%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 242

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Big Jim McLain Photos

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Movie Info

In this Cold War film, Big Jim McLain (John Wayne) and his partner Mal Baxter (Jim Arness) head to Hawaii to investigate a subversive pro-Communist organization. Feigning love for suspect Nancy Vallon (Nancy Olson), McLain ferrets out the name of the Big Cheese in charge of operations.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Western
Directed By:

Edward Ludwig
Written By:

Richard English, James Edward Grant, Eric Taylor
In Theaters:

Aug 30, 1952 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

May 22, 2007
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES

Cast

John Wayne
as Jim McLain

Nancy Olson
as Nancy Vallon

James Arness
as Mal Baxter

Veda Ann Borg
as Madge

Alan Napier
as Sturak

Gayne Whitman
as Dr. Gelster

Hal Baylor
as Poke

Robert Keys
as Edwin White

Hans Conried
as Robert Henried

John Hubbard
as Lt. Cmdr. Clint Grey

Sarah Padden
as Mrs. Lexiter

Soo Yong
as Mrs. Nomaka

Dan Liu
as Honolulu Chief of Police Dan Liu

Paul Hurst
as Mr. Lexiter (uncredited)

Vernon McQueen
as Phil Briggs (as Red McQueen)

Gordon Jones
as Olaf

Peter Brocco
as Mr. Nash

Peter Whitney
as Truckdriver

Harry Tyler
as Waiter

William Forrest
as McLain's Superior

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Critic Reviews for Big Jim McLain

All Critics (2) | Rotten (2)

Pathetic anti-Communist propaganda film with a snarling John Wayne at his ugliest as a macho windbag special agent for HUAC.

Jul 28, 2008 | Rating: D | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The name of Wayne's special agent for the HUAAC had the same initials as those of Senator Joseph McCarthy, which was not a coincidence, and Wayne himself believed that his popular propagandistic film helped McCarthy's reelection campaign.

May 27, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for Big Jim McLain

Mar 12, 2010

Seeks to glorify the loathsome Joe McCarthy and his venal lot. Wayne was a well known ultra conservative so his presence here is no surprise but that this thing exists at all is a shame.

jay n Super Reviewer
Nov 12, 2008

<i>Big Jim McLain</i> features one of John Wayne's best walk-through; he looks a little sheepish, but he's so amiable you forget he's really not in character. The drama at hand is tidied up rather quickly, yet the film is directed with a steady hand and has an easy-going pace. The black-and-white cinematography is quite beautiful, with silvery shots of the tropics in all their '50s splendor.

Dean M Super Reviewer